Kia debuts EV4 electric sedan, versatile PV5 PBV in Spain
Carmaker's new EV lineup signals electrification across all segments
Kia, Korea's second-largest automaker, announced Thursday that it showcased its latest electric vehicle models at the 2025 Kia EV Day in Tarragona, Spain.
At the event on Feb. 24, Kia unveiled its first electric sedan, the EV4, and purpose-built vehicle, the PV5, marking the company's commitment to expanding its electric lineup.
"As a sustainable mobility solution provider, Kia continues to accelerate EV adoption by offering products and experiences designed from the customer's perspective," said Kia CEO Song Ho-sung.
Set to debut in Korea in the first half of 2025, the EV4 is the latest addition to Kia's SUV-focused EV lineup. It is built on the Electric Global Modular Platform shared among Hyundai Motor Group vehicles.
Equipped with an 81.4-kilowatt-hour battery, the long-range EV4 offers the longest driving range among Hyundai Motor Group's electric models — 533 kilometers on a full charge. Both long-range and standard models feature Kia's most advanced aerodynamic design, catering to consumers who prioritize practicality and efficiency.
Kia emphasizes the EV4's refined design, characterized by a smooth, cohesive silhouette, with the gently sloping hood, rear glass and trunk flowing seamlessly together. The front features a horizontally oriented layout, enhancing the spaciousness, while head and tail lamps positioned at the edges of the body contribute to a unified exterior.
At the event, Kia also unveiled its PBV PV5, which will launch in Korea and Europe in the second half of 2025.
Built on the E-GMP.S platform — a specialized version of Kia's EV platform designed for PBVs — the PV5 will be offered in four optimized configurations: cargo truck with a closed cargo area, cargo truck with an open cargo area, general van and wheelchair-accessible van.
Kia stated that the PV5 will lead its expansion into commercial mobility solutions, transforming the company into a comprehensive provider of mobility services.
As part of this strategy, Kia revealed new business software solutions, including a fleet management system and IoT platforms that connect vehicles with business sites, developed in partnership with Samsung Electronics. Kia also plans to expand its PBV lineup by 2026 to meet diverse customer needs.
"As a leader in the PBV market, Kia will introduce a new paradigm for customized mobility through innovations in hardware, software, and manufacturing — all centered on our customers' needs," said CEO Song.
Meanwhile, Kia unveiled a concept model of the compact sport utility vehicle, the EV2, set for launch in Europe in 2026, at the event. Targeting international markets, the EV2 will be Kia's smallest EV model, measuring 4,000 millimeters in length.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Tesla's retreat in Europe fuels Hyundai-BYD showdown
Hyundai doubles down on quality, tech features as BYD gains ground with low-cost EVs Tesla's shrinking presence in the European market is setting the stage for cutthroat competition between Hyundai Motor Group and China's BYD. While the Korean auto giant has maintained its stronghold in the world's second-largest electrified vehicle market, the Chinese EV maker is rapidly eating into Tesla's share as it aggressively offloads excess domestic inventory in global markets. According to reports on Wednesday, Tesla may lose its position as the third-largest EV brand in Europe to BYD for a second consecutive month. Recent data on new EV registrations show that BYD has already overtaken Tesla in the United Kingdom and Germany — two of the region's key EV markets. Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority reported that Tesla's sales in Germany fell 36.2 percent on-year to 1,210 units, while BYD's volume surged nearly ninefold to 1,857 units. In the UK, Tesla's new registrations dropped 36 percent to 2,016 units, while BYD recorded a staggering 407 percent increase to 3,025 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. This shift follows a major milestone in April, when BYD surpassed Tesla in monthly European sales of battery-powered vehicles for the first time, even with the countervailing tariffs of up to 35 percent on Chinese EVs in effect since November. BYD sold 7,231 units in April, edging out Tesla's 7,165 units, according to data from London-based market tracker JATO Dynamics. Although the difference was just 66 units, industry insiders see the moment as a major inflection point. Tesla has been in a back-and-forth battle with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia for the No. 2 position in European monthly EV sales. In April, the Korean duo sold a combined 16,447 battery EVs, trailing only Volkswagen's 23,514 units. If Tesla fails to rebound from its sluggish performance — partly attributed to CEO Elon Musk's political entanglement with the Donald Trump administration — the competition for market share in Europe will likely center on Hyundai Motor Group and BYD. With BYD holding a clear pricing advantage, the Korean legacy automakers are ramping up their survival strategies. 'Kia's EV3 (a compact electric sport utility vehicle) has been well received in Europe, and our smaller EV2 SUV is set to debut next year,' said a Hyundai Motor Group official. 'Our strategy is to highlight quality and performance.' Kia also plans to roll out the EV4 sedan and the EV5 midsize SUV later this year. The Kia EV3 and its competitor, the BYD Atto 3, are priced starting at approximately 35,990 euros ($41,000) and 32,690 euros, respectively. New round of chicken game? Experts say Hyundai Motor and Kia need to enhance customer experience to stay competitive against BYD, which is gaining ground with its affordable, high-performing EVs. 'Compared to Tesla, which earns around $10,000 in profit per EV, Hyundai and Kia's per-unit profit is only about one-tenth of that,' said Lee Ho-geun, a professor of automotive engineering at Daeduk University. 'This leaves them with limited room to cut prices.' He also noted that while Korean cars tend to benefit from better resale value and less consumer backlash compared to Chinese brands in Korea, BYD could narrow the gap in Europe by redirecting its swelling EV inventory abroad. Last week, China's central government reportedly warned domestic automakers against irrational price cuts. The ongoing price war, led by BYD, has seen discounts of up to 34 percent as it tries to defend its home turf from increasing competition, Lee explained. Im Eun-young, an analyst at Samsung Securities, noted that BYD's significantly higher selling prices in Europe — 2.5 to 3 times more than in China — could help offset profit losses from those domestic price cuts. 'BYD and Kia are drawing attention as they roll out affordable EVs in the 30,000-euro range,' she said. 'Hyundai and Kia should look into improving infotainment systems, possibly through partnerships with European telecom companies to enhance connected services,' Lee added. 'Expanding service centers could also go a long way in improving the overall customer experience.'
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul shares open higher on extended foreign buying
South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, set for a weeklong rally, on the back of a foreign buying binge amid uncertainties. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 16.71 points, or 0.57 percent, to 2,923.75 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The KOSPI had risen for a sixth consecutive session to hit a three-year high the previous session. Overnight, Wall Street closed lower amid heightened security risks in the Middle East seen in the United States' plan to partially evacuate its embassy in Iraq and an absence of details on the US-China trade negotiations held earlier this week. High-level officials from Washington and Beijing held talks in London for two days through Tuesday, where they agreed on a possible trade framework that could resolve trade disputes between the two countries. The officials planned to take the matter to their leaders, US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, for approval, but many specifics of the deal still remain unclear. In Seoul, tech behemoth Samsung Electronics shed 0.17 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix jumped 2.6 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor went up 1.24 percent and its sister Kia climbed 1.65 percent. Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace advanced 1.99 percent and major nuclear power plant manufacturer Doosan Enerbility soared 5.28 percent. Leading shipbuilders also kicked off strong, with Hanwha Ocean surging 4.41 percent and HD Hyundai Heavy rising 0.48 percent. Samsung Biologics, however, dipped 1.15 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,368.5 won against the greenback at 9:15 a.m., up 6.5 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Kospi soars to 3-year high on foreign buying, tech rally
Optimism builds as analysts forecast continued gains on policy, global tailwinds The South Korean benchmark Kospi broke through the 2,900-point threshold for the first time in over three years on Wednesday, marking a notable milestone as it extends its bullish rally. The Kospi reached as high as 2,904.21 during intraday trading, surpassing the 2,900 mark for the first time since it peaked at 2,902.79 on Jan. 18, 2022. The index opened at 2,887.32 and quickly gained in early trading, exceeding the 52-week high of 2,896.43 recorded on July 11 last year. The rally followed overnight gains on Wall Street, driven by growing expectations of improved trade conditions between the US and China. Hopes are rising that restrictions on semiconductor sales to China may be eased. After hitting its peak, the Kospi pared some gains, retreating to the 2,890-point range as of press time. At 2 p.m., it stood at 2,897.23, up 25.38 points or 0.88 percent from the previous session. The index has been on a six-day winning streak, which began a day before the country's presidential election on June 3. A massive influx of foreign capital has fueled the rally. Offshore investors purchased nearly 4 trillion won ($3 billion) worth of shares on the Kospi in June, extending the 1.16 trillion won net buying spree seen in May, according to Korea Exchange data. As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, foreigners had net bought 72 billion won worth of shares, while institutional investors purchased 146 billion won. Retail investors, meanwhile, sold off 198 billion won, likely to lock in profits. Market heavyweight stocks showed strong performances with tech giants leading the game, tracking the rally in US chip stocks. Blue-chip shares Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix were up 0.93 percent and 4.12 percent, respectively, as of 2 p.m. On the back of expectations for a de-escalation in the trade war, shares of LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Motor and Kia were also traded higher, while Hanwha Solution stocks surged by 18 percent as of press time. In an attempt to support the rally, President Lee Jae-myung visited the headquarters of the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Wednesday, where he held a meeting to discuss measures to prevent unfair trading. During the election campaign, Lee pledged to usher in a 'Kospi 5,000 era' by strengthening minority shareholder protections. Amid the continuing upward momentum of the Kospi, local brokerage firms are upping their outlooks. KB Securities, for instance, raised its 12-month target for the Kospi to 3,240 points by the first half of 2026. 'Although tariff risks are expected to continue through the third quarter, along with an increased possibility of a recession if the threats materialize into actual impositions, the Korean stock market is likely to demonstrate relatively strong resilience, supported by a weakening dollar, domestic stimulus measures and ongoing capital market reforms,' analyst Lee Eun-taek said. 'By the fourth quarter, trade tensions could enter a phase of resolution, leading to a rise in risk appetite and revitalized investment activity,' Lee added. With the rally of the stock market, the secondary bourse Kosdaq stood at 786.09 as of 2 p.m., up 14.89 points or 1.93 percent. The Korean won was quoted at 1,369.57 per dollar as of 2 p.m., losing value by roughly 5 won from the previous daytime trading.
